Premium
Human hair follicle pigmentary unit as a direct target for modulators of melanogenesis, as studied by [ 14 C]‐2‐Thiouracil incorporation
Author(s) -
Michelet JeanFrançois,
Gautier Brigitte,
Gaillard Olivier,
Bernard Bruno Alain,
Benech Florence
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00804.x
Subject(s) - hair follicle , tyrosinase , melanin , chemistry , dermal papillae , hair cycle , endocrinology , forskolin , hyperpigmentation , stimulation , follicle , medicine , thiouracil , biology , biochemistry , thyroid , enzyme
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate human hair follicle melanogenic activity using the [ 14 C]‐2‐thiouracil, which was known to incorporate into nascent melanins. Results obtained on pigmented, grey and non‐pigmented hair follicles demonstrated that [ 14 C]‐2‐TU incorporation was restricted to the melanogenic compartment with a strong accumulation located around dermal papilla and within the fibre of pigmented hair follicles. Quantitative analysis of [ 14 C]‐2‐TU incorporation showed a significant increase in pigmented hair follicles upon stimulation with 1 μ m forskolin concomitant to an increase in tyrosinase levels. A strong significant decrease in [ 14 C]‐2‐TU incorporation was noted, when hair follicles were incubated with the tyrosinase competitive inhibitor kojic acid (200 μ m ). Incubation with the MC1‐R agonist α‐MSH (0.2 μ m ) did not induce a significant stimulation of hair melanogenesis. The present model could thus represent a useful new tool to identify modulators of human hair pigmentation.